Hindalco Taps Vi Business for First Private Network Deployment at Bauxite Mine
Vi Business has partnered with Hindalco to set up a dedicated private network at the Baphlimali Bauxite Mine in Rayagada, Odisha. The multi-year managed deployment includes spectrum, core, radio access network, and support services. It is intended to improve worker safety, fleet management, surveillance, and real-time monitoring as part of Hindalco's Industry 4.0 and DigiMine efforts.
Vi Business, Vodafone Idea’s enterprise division, will provide Hindalco with a multi-year managed private network at the Baphlimali Bauxite Mine in Rayagada, Odisha. The arrangement spans spectrum, core, radio access network and managed services, forming connectivity infrastructure for connected mining.
Hindalco describes the project as its first private network rollout and a component of its Industry 4.0 and DigiMine efforts. Intended applications include protecting staff, managing vehicle fleets, monitoring through drones and CCTV, tracking operations live, and an Integrated Command and Control Centre for centralized oversight and evidence-based decisions. The scalable setup is expected to enable automation and other emerging technologies.
For mine workers and on-site teams, the private network could mean faster safety alerts, better tracking and more coordinated emergency responses. Managers may gain clearer operational data, while surrounding communities might experience indirect effects through changed mine activity and infrastructure. Whether these benefits materialize may depend on how the system is deployed, what data is collected, and how worker privacy and local concerns are handled.